World Masters Sets Record for Sport: 612 Teams

Oct. 1, 2017

LAS VEGAS – The 6th Annual LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships (WMC) set a record for the sport again, attracting 612 teams from 39 states, 3 Canadian Provinces, 7 teams from Guam.

That translates into more than 18,000 people over the 10 days of the tournament infusing more than $27 million into the Las Vegas economy.

The WMC, although marred by the mass shooting shortly after the third session ended Sunday night, was marked by large divisions and perfect softball weather.

The first and largest session consisted of the 55 and 60 men’s divisions and was played Sept. 22-24.

Beginning with the nine-team Men’s 60 Major Plus division, top seed MTC 60’s/Dudley (CA) ran the table in bracket play, posting perfect 4-0 record, including a 30-28 win over Nighthawks (CA) in the championship game. In a matchup between the Western and Eastern National Champions, MTC 60’s/Dudley defeated Hollis Appraisals 60’s (FL) in the U.S. National Championship game 27-24 to complete the second leg of the elusive Triple Grand Slam. The team would go on to complete the feat with its World Masters Championship victory over Nighthawks. Hollis Appraisals finished in third place, while Old Dawgs 60 (CA) rounded out the top four finishers.

Similarly, the 30-team Men’s 60 Major division featured a Triple Grand Slam winner, as No.1 seed Omega IT Services, LLC (MD) completed the feat. The team defeated Houston Fire (TX) 26-17 in the U.S. National Championship Game to lock up the No. 1 seed. Omega IT Services would go on to win four straight games before suffering a loss in the championship game against Reloaded (CA), 25-13. The team avenged that loss with a 29-27 victory in the “if” game to win the World Masters and earn the Triple Grand Slam. Houston Fire finished in third place, while Old Giants (CA) recorded a fourth-place finish.

The largest division of the opening session, the 42-team Men’s 60 AAA division, saw Milwaukee Merchants (WI) run the gauntlet, going 6-0 in bracket play, including a 20-15 win over Bucky’s Casino 60’s (AZ) in the championship game. Pompano Crush 60’s (FL) finished in third place following a strong showing in the elimination side of the bracket on the final day with a 4-1 record, while Carriage Homes (AR) finished in fourth place after winning three straight to start out championship Sunday in the elimination side of the bracket. Mountain Mike’s Pizza (CA) edged out Pompano Crush, 15-14, in the U.S. National Championship Game, but would fall short of the Triple Grand Slam going 2-2 in bracket play.

Concluding the 60’s division was the 19-team Men’s 60 AA division, as the No. 10 seed Oshkosh Ambassadors (WI) registered a flawless 5-0 record, including a 15-4 win over top seed Dallas Spurs (TX) in the championship game. Family (NV) finished in third place, while 50th State Seniors (HI) rattled off six straight wins after dropping their opening game in the bracket to eventually finish in fourth place.

Oshkosh Ambassadors (WI) - Men's 60 AA Champions

Moving to the Men’s 55 age division, the 13-team Men’s 55 Major Plus division saw Cornerstone (OR) take the division with their 34-23 win over JU Entertainment/Major Plus 55 (CA) in the championship game. The win capped an undefeated weekend for the team, as Cornerstone went 2-0 in seeding play, before going 4-0 in the bracket. Top seed Sommerville Softball (CA) finished in third place, as the team rebounded from an upset loss in their opening game in the bracket against JU Entertainment, 22-19, winning five straight games, before falling short once again to JU Entertainment 25-13 in the third-place game.  San Antonio Softball (TX) rounded out the top four finishing teams.

RBC/Pro-Grass (FL) ran the table in the 30-team Men’s 55 Major division, as the team posted a perfect weekend, going 2-0 in seeding play and a 6-0 record in bracket play, including a 26-21 victory over J & J’s Sports/Demons (IA) in the championship game. J & J’s Sports/Demons made a valiant run through the bracket, as the team dropped their first two games in the three-game guarantee bracket, before then winning seven straight games to reach the championship game. So Cal 55 (CA) finished in third place, while Speedwerx (MN) won six straight games in the elimination side of the bracket before falling in the fourth place game. Doerflinger (WA) defeated Woodlawn Funeral Home (VA), 19-15, in the U.S. National Championship game to earn the top seed in the bracket; however, the team would post a 2-2 record in the bracket falling short of the Triple Grand Slam.

The 40-team Men’s 55 AAA division saw four teams enter championship Sunday undefeated, as Old Stars (IN), TMS Michigan, Michael’s/Magic Toyota (WA), and Never Say Never/Big Al’s Trucking (UT) were all in the driver’s seat for the title. After losing to Old Stars in a one-run thriller, 30-29, to start the final day, TMS Michigan rattled off five straight wins, including back-to-back wins over Never Say Never, by scores of 17-16 and 23-17, in the championship and “if” game, respectively, to complete the double-dip. TMS scored four runs in the bottom of the open inning to complete the walk-off win in the championship game, forcing the "if" game. Old Stars finished in third place, while Senior Bend Elks (OR), the U.S. National Champion, finished in fourth place after winning three straight games in the elimination side of the bracket. Senior Bend Elks edged out Ameriprise Florida Legends 24-23 in the U.S. National Championship game.

TMS Michigan - Men's 55 AAA Champions

Concluding the Men’s 55 division was the 10-team Men’s 55 AA division, as Lights Out (CA), the No. 8 seed, posted a perfect 5-0 record in the bracket, including a thrilling 26-25 win over New Mexico Boomers in the championship game, which went 11 innings. Longshoremen (VA) finished in third place, while Spin Tees (WA) finished in fourth place after winning four straight games in the elimination side of the bracket. Pastimers (WA) won the U.S. National Championship after scoring six runs in the bottom of the open to complete the come-from-behind win over Longshoremen 15-14 in the U.S. National Championship game. Pastimers would be unable to build from that victory, as the team went 0-3 in the bracket to fall short of the Triple Grand Slam.

FINAL RESULTS

First Session (Men's 55 & 60)

Division winners receive championship rings and earn a berth to the Original Tournament of Champions (TOC) in Polk County, FL in February

Men’s 55 Major Plus
1. Cornerstone (OR) - TOC
2. JU Entertainment/Major Plus 55 (CA)
3. Sommerville Softball (CA) - U.S. National Champion
4. San Antonio Softball (TX)

Men’s 55 Major
1. RBC/Pro-Grass (FL) - TOC
2. J&J’s Sports/Demons (IA)
3. So Cal 55 (CA)
4. Speedwerx (MN)
Doerflinger (WA) – U.S. National Champion

Men’s 55 AAA
1. TMS Michigan - TOC
2. Never Say Never/Big Al’s Trucking (UT)
3. Old Stars (IN)
4. Senior Bend Elks (OR) – U.S. National Champion

Men’s 55 AA
1. Lights Out 55 (CA) - TOC
2. New Mexico Boomers
3. Longshoremen 55 (VA)
4. Spin Tees (WA)
Pastimers (WA) - U.S. National Champion

Men’s 60 Major Plus
1. MTC/Dudley (CA) - TOC / Triple Grand Slam (Western National/U.S. National/World Masters Champion)
2. Nighthawks (CA)
3. Hollis Appraisals 60’s (FL)
4. Old Dawgs 60 (CA)

Men’s 60 Major
1. Omega IT Services (MD) - TOC / Triple Grand Slam (Eastern National/U.S. National/World Masters Champion)
2. Reloaded (CA)
3. Houston Fire (TX)
4. Old Giants (CA)

Men’s 60 AAA
1. Milwaukee Merchants (WI) – TOC
2. Bucky’s Casino 60’s (AZ)
3. Pompano Crush 60’s (FL)
4. Carriage Homes (AR)
Mountain Mike’s Pizza (CA) – U.S. National Champion

Men’s 60 AA
1. Oshkosh Ambassadors 60 (WI) – TOC
2. Dallas Spurs 60 (TX)
3. Family (NV)
4. 50^th State Seniors (HI)
Fresno Mayhem (CA) - U.S. National Champion